Trent Harmon Bio – American Idol Contestant

by MJ on April 7, 2016

Biography of Trent Harmon from American Idol season 15.

Born on October 8th, 1990 to a family of successful entrepreneurs and farmers, Trent Harmon discovered he had an innate talent for the performing arts. Since then, he has performed in several musical productions at Amory High School and became a prodigious musician; he’s learned the piano, drums, and guitar.

Trent Harmon – American Idol Contestant – Bio

His Christian background

Once he graduated high school, Trent Harmon became an emerging talent at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, where he performed in multiple musical productions and at public events. His participation in the campus worship club — a religious campus organization — proved to be beneficial as well. After he joined the organization and began singing church hymns and performing Christian music, attendance of the club and related worship services skyrocketed. “We had the football team and many others coming to those Thursday night meetings,” said Trent, “We asked what they wanted to hear and that is the music we played.” Trent Harmon’s music and piety went hand in hand. He remained a fixture of the worship club until his graduation. One of a handful of male contestants on the fifteenth and final season of American Idol, Trent Harmon is no stranger to performing before an audience. The musical theater buff and choirboy from Amory, Mississippi has risen to the top with aplomb.

Trent Harmon and a cute little girl – I have no idea who she is

Auditioning for The Voice

Shortly after his graduation, Trent Harmon relocated to his family farm. He was persuaded by a close friend to audition for the popular NBC talent competition The Voice. Reluctant at first, Trent eventually gathered the courage to audition. “They take more into account of what you look like and your clothes since this is for television, and people will be seeing you,” attested Trent, “I took three suitcases of clothes. You have to look the part. If you are lucky, you get to wear your own clothes, but that doesn’t always happen. I was fortunate to wear my own.” After making several preparations — including procuring an outfit suitable for television supplied by a boutique-owner friend — Trent met the casting director of the show and sang. He was immediately invited to Los Angeles to perform “Jealous” by Nick Jonas on the set. From that point on, Trent Harmon was chasing auditions for an elusive spot on The Voice. He sang “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith during his New Orleans audition. Although The Voice didn’t pan out for Trent Harmon, he earned countless opportunities to perform once he’d returned home. For the first time in his life, Trent was sought out by vocalists and music contractors from all over the nation. He was on his way to a career in music.

His brief tenure on The Voice wasn’t the endgame for Trent Harmon, however; during the American Idol auditions in Little Rock, Arkansas, Trent surprised the judges with a rhythm and blues rendition of “Unaware” by Allen Stone. This farm boy wasn’t to be mistaken for an average bumpkin. Rather than a jaunty country tune, Trent Harmon sang a smooth, jazzy lullaby that had Jennifer Lopez swooning. He unsurprisingly won a ticket to Hollywood.

Trent Harmon making a funny face

The country boy does admit to a few cliche habits, though. He professed that he often sang at his family’s steakhouse named — who’d have guessed — “The Longhorn”. He also admitted that he often serenaded his cows at the farm back home. Everything about Trent Harmon, bar his riveting singing voice, suggests a folksy charm befitting a Mississippi farm boy.

Hollywood rounds and sickness

Not all was ideal as Trent jetted off to Hollywood. During the group round, he came down with a nasty case of the contagious illness mononucleosis. He was incapable of performing among other people, so the inventive singer enrolled as a group of one. He chose the song “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith. His performance was admittedly lackluster. Hampered by his illness, Trent Harmon couldn’t adequately perform until the following solo round — and perform he did.

Trent Harmon on the American Idol stage

Instead of the Johnny Cash solo the audience expected, Trent Harmon solidified his position in the top twenty-four of American Idol with a rendition of “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John. Clad in a crimson fedora, Trent Harmon belted a flawless take on the classic hit. He had impeccable range control as he serenaded the crowd. His showmanship was admirable as well; he floated along the edge of the stage to meet the cheering crowd as he sang. His case of mono had passed just in time for a fantastic performance on the silver stage. One could compare Trent Harmon to a humble Robin Thicke; he’s got soul.

What does the future hold for Trent Harmon? Without a doubt, even if he without winning American Idol’s fifteenth season, Trent surely has a future in music. After his audition for The Voice, Trent was approached by an independent record label to compose a few songs. They had seen him perform live at a local restaurant and offered him the opportunity to advance his career.

What will Trent accomplish after American Idol? With a potential record deal already in place, Trent Harmon might not even need the elusive Big Machine Records deal. This is a man with the potential to pave his own path through the music industry. With a voice that is reminiscent of the most popular male performers of the contemporary industry and the charm of a folksy heartthrob, Trent Harmon has the potential to become a major celebrity. There is little possibility that he’s returning to the farm.

“In order to achieve anything of merit in the music industry,” Trent professed, “you have to leave the farm.” Although he diligently works on the farm — when he’s not singing to the cows, that is — Trent aspires to more. He surprised the judges with his raw ambition. Jennifer Lopez was a stammering wreck when he sang his first mellifluous melody. The other judges were astonished. Nobody expected the humble farm boy to belt out hardcore soul music. “Bar none, my favorite audition,” said Harry Connick Jr. after Trent’s first song. Trent was a real revelation in the second half of the season when he positioned himself as a true contender. Perhaps, one day, he’ll awe the world.